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    Lights, Camera, Drama! LUMS Dramafest Brings Acting Talent from All Over Pakistan

    Written by: Tasarunn Munir Chaudry
    Posted on: November 23, 2016 | | 中文

    IBA's enthralling performance won the Best Play award (photo: Maryam Jamil)

    In the third weekend of November, LUMS was brimming with students from all over Pakistan. Like every year, Dramafest had attracted a large audience. On Friday, 18th November, Dramafest kicked off with social events for the teams during the day, including Tambola and a Movie Trivia, which were thoroughly enjoyed by the participating teams.

    Following a two-hour break, at 7:00 pm sharp, LUMS kicked off Dramafest 2016 with one of its own plays. Directed by Umer Iqbal, a comedy skit was performed which left the audience in stitches. This was followed up by various performances by Szabist, FC College, LGS DIDP, University of Central Punjab (UCP) and Government College University (GCU). There seemed to be a bit of an overlap in the themes of the plays, with women’s rights becoming a recurrent theme throughout the night. The turnout on the first day was also a bit low. However, the teams were not disheartened and gave their best, finishing with a brilliant performance by GCU.

    LUMS Dramafest 2016

    An intense scene where the visual effect of broken bangles heightened the pathos

    On the second day, the social events included a Delegate Lounge where the teams played various games and won points that contributed towards the ‘Social Events Award’ that was to be handed on the third day. Food stalls were set up by the likes of Maro Tandoors and Sarrak Pe Karrak, to cater to the culinary cravings of students.

    Saturday saw the largest turnout of people, with over 1,500 tickets sold for the day. Various teams that performed that day included Kinnaid College, UCL and NUST. LUMS put up two more diverse plays – an enthralling tragedy and an entertaining comedy that set the bar high for the other teams. Saturday also saw two of the best performances put up by LSE and LGS Defence. LSE had a rather original idea of a time-lapse comedy that looked very difficult to execute, but they executed it masterfully. On the other hand, LGS Defence took on the theme of schizophrenia and delivered a performance that left the crowd speechless. These plays concluded the second day and further raised expectations for the final day of the event.

    LUMS Dramafest 2016

    Sunday was started by engaging the teams in a talent show where team members could display any talent other than their acting abilities. Despite this restriction, the teams displayed a variety of talents including dancing, mimicry, impromptu performances and stand-up comedy. When evening came around and the event started, LCSS, Aitchson College, IQRA University and the remaining institutes continued to put up unique performances, taking the audience through a whirlpool of emotions. The most exceptional performance was by IBA, which left more than half of the audience in tears. Their play depicted the harsh, demanding life led by soldiers in the Pakistani military, who leave their families behind and give their lives for their nation without hesitation. As the curtain closed on them, there was thunderous applause from the crowd. Dramafest 2016 was concluded with the ‘Pel Play’. Since Pel was a major sponsor, LUMS wished to express their gratitude by putting up a comedy play in which the appliances were shown to come to life. Dramafest ended on a light-hearted note with a thoroughly satisfied audience.

    LUMS Dramafest 2016

    The Lyceum School took the award for Best Costumes

    The awards were announced, and while IBA won the award for Best Play, LSE snatched the Dramafest Award for 2016, having won the highest number of awards thanks to their brilliant performance. With this, Dramafest 2016 officially came to a close. The host team displayed great efficiency and time management skills, resulting in an event that proved to be an all-round success.

     

    All images have been provided by Maryam Jamil.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021